Green Spaces: research has proven that regular access to green spaces makes humans physically healthier, emotionally happier, and mentally better able to manage stress and improve balance. You’ve experienced this for yourself - think about walking into a grove of beautiful trees and drawing a deep, peaceful breath. This is a universal human experience!

Replacing Food Deserts with Sustainable Nutrition: inner cities, particularly low-income areas, often lack access to fresh produce. In times of disaster, these areas can be cut off from supplies, just where people are least likely to own a car and be able to drive to another grocery store. By creating capacity for urban communities to grow locally owned fresh foods, sustainable, reliable access to nutritious food is assured. Typically, these are community-driven initiatives which foster pride in the garden space, and create a nearby place for interpersonal connections.

Relieving Heat Islands: Have you ever noticed it’s cooler and easier to breathe in the shade of a tree on a hot day? Vegetation provides shade and breaks up the concrete landscape that absorbs the sun’s rays and captures heat. Vegetation also transpires which helps control humidity. Without trees and other plants, the sun bakes the city, the heat is trapped, and slowly releases even as the air temperature begins to cool. The intensity of these heat islands cause many cases of heat stress every year, hitting lowest income areas the hardest. On extreme weather days, these heat islands can be fatal for those unable to leave or find shelter in air conditioning. With lots of trees and green spaces, shade and cooling effects provide relief and shelter, keeping outside temperatures more stable and comfortable. Think of a hot day under the shade of a tree; you know what a difference that shade makes!

Economic Support: Small volunteer urban agricultural operations support community health; large operations require staff and create local, self-sustaining jobs. These are jobs working in healthy environments and giving back to the community. The work spaces provide excellent opportunities for green-collar job training and experience for youth and adults looking for job changes and growth.

Environmental Support: Wildlife need green spaces too! Local birds and bats who control insect populations need roots and nesting spaces. During migration seasons, birds on their journeys need places to rest and recover. Pollinators like bees and butterflies need flowering plants, and in turn they help the plants to reproduce and grow. Healthy wildlife populations keep unwanted pest species in check and support the health of the small ecosystem that forms around community green spaces.